By Joe Henricksen

When it comes to evaluating and ranking high school players, I sometimes find it difficult to truly rely on the national talent evaluators. I have just seen too many discrepancies when it comes to Illinois prep players over the years, the players the Hoops Report focuses on 12 months a year.

Really, it's no fault of their own. When it becomes national, there are just too many players. It's difficult enough to fully grasp and cover one individual state like Illinois. I can't imagine doing the same on a national scope. Yes, when it comes to the top 25 or 50 players in the country, I don't think it takes the wizard of basketball recruiting to identify the truly special talent. It doesn't take long to realize where a Derrick Rose belongs -- or a Julian Wright or Shaun Livingston, for that matter.

There are too many times when an Illinois prep player has "blown up" nationally -- or been written off -- by national evaluators due to one particular weekend event in April or even a couple of weeks of solid basketball in the middle of July. We saw the perfect case of this last spring when Oak Park's Iman Shumpert had a big weekend of basketball. His fate was secure on the national level no matter what he had done during his junior season that had just passed or what he would do during his senior year.

And even at these AAU events, the national evaluators are getting only a taste of each of these individual players as they are trying to see every kid from around the country. The national evaluators may make a single trip to see a player the other 9 months of the year, but they are rarely watching a player during the regular season. They don't always get to see how the player may fit in a particular system, how the player reacts to actually being coached with his high school team, how he is playing in what may be his "true" position, how he handles being "the man," or what he is like in a team concept or playing team defense -- or forced to play defense at all. It's just another reason why college coaches do like to recruit their own state. There is no doubt that, when college coaches get outside that top 25 or 50 player nationally, there is a bit more of a comfort level recruiting state kids as they have seen and watched the players in their own state so much more than the out-of-state player.

When it comes time to predict the future of an Illinois prep prospect or a breakdown of one of those in-state players, I would feel much more secure as a fan reading up on players by those who have covered the state for years, focus on Illinois solely, and have gained respect along the way. Veteran evaluators like Roy and Harv Schmidt of Illinois Prepbullseye come to mind. You don't think the Schmidts -- or the City/Suburban Hoops Report after 13 years of publication -- have a better grip on the state and the players in it than a national recruiting service? Again, there are the no-brainers, the top 10 kids, the top 25 or maybe even top 50 that can be identified by just about anyone who has been evaluating. But Illinois kids may or may not make that cut. And it may or may not be deserved.

That leaves the question -- and the answer to the headline of this blog. The national evaluators do have a purpose. Simply put, there has to be some kind of national ranking. It's fun -- fun to see, fun to debate, fun to pick apart, justify and look back on four or five years down the road. And I do find it awfully interesting to see the reaction and thoughts of the national evaluators the few times they do get to see the top players from Illinois, the ones I have seen play dozens of times by the time they are a junior or senior. I do enjoy getting feedback from the national evaluators to see how on or off they are on our Illinois kids.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 07:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

It was just three years ago when New Trier coach Rick Malnati was included in a City/Suburban Hoops Report issue as one of the five top coaches in Illinois prep basketball. And it was just a few months ago when as part of a "Best Of" issue in the Hoops Report, Malnati was singled out as the Best Coach. Now he's no longer the head coach at New Trier following his resignation after 12 years at the Winnetka school.

When Malnati's resignation went public it was probably a surprise to some. However, those close to Malnati probably weren't too shocked. After a few conversations with Malnati during this past season, I sensed it was coming. In one of those conversations that turned away from basketball and then back to it, including the talk of the longevity of some coaches and his specific future, Malnati -- a tell-it-like-it-is coach who wears his heart on his sleeve -- made references that would make you wonder just how long he would stick around. I remember him saying in one of those talks, "I'm telling you, Joe, it might be sooner than you think."

Malnati will be difficult to replace at New Trier. This is a special progam in a unique environment. And Malnati, having been a part of New Trier as a player, student and assistant coach, was a perfect fit. Malnati understood the culture of New Trier and Winnetka, which the new coach may have a tough time doing depending on his background. While New Trier had a long and proud tradition well before Malnati took over, he was the one responsible for raising the program to a higher level.

As a pure basketball coach, Malnati's teams often overachieved. In addition to overachieving teams, Malnati also made the most of his top talent. It's funny, most everyone just thinks -- or assumes -- that the 2002 team that upset mighty Proviso East with Dee Brown and Shannon Brown featured New Trier superstar Matt Lottich, who went on to star at Stanford. Lottich's team did reach the Elite Eight -- but it was in 2000. Malnati's teams executed. And they were fun to watch from a basketball purist's perspective. I also think Malnati would succeed coaching at different levels and in different types of environments. Plain and simple, Malnati was a college coach in the high school coaching ranks.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

It's too bad every class that enters high school these days is hyped to the extreme by so many people, because when a truly talented one actually does come through it might not stand out or be adored and appreciated as much as it should. In recent years it's been rather ridiculous the accolades bestowed on these young players simply because they are, well, young.

The City/Suburban Hoops Report at least tries to be cautious in forecasting stardom for players just entering high school or who have just completed their freshman season. If anyone is going to attach the label "special" to an entire class or even an individual at that age, make it legit. Sure, talent evaluators are going to miss on some kids over time, but to start the hype machine just to be the first one to do so is erroneous -- but now the norm. There are always going to be a bunch of Division I players in every class in the state of Illinois. However, they aren't all superstar prospects every year, especially when they first walk into the halls of their high school.

Last year's senior class (college freshmen today) did very little for me as freshmen in high school, with the obvious exception of Derrick Rose of Simeon, who was a no-brainer at an early age. The rest of the class? Not so much. And as it turned out the class as a whole was OK, nothing special. I was looking back at comments made about this year's seniors when they were freshmen (Class of 2008). Again, aside from Washington's DeAndre Liggins, who transferred to a prep school prior to his senior year, and the pure size and vast potential of Farragut's Mike Dunigan, the class wasn't talked about a whole lot in Hoops Report issues as being one of those "special" classes. And the Class of 2009, this past year's juniors, has actually turned out much better than what the Hoops Report thought it would when watching these players early in their careers.

But in the end this year's freshmen -- the Class of 2011 -- I believe, will live up to the early hype and project out to be one of the better classes to come through Illinois. Yes, it's still early, but I think the labels bestowed on them are warranted and I agree with most of the superlatives being thrown their way. The top of the class is headed by star quality prospects, while the class as a whole appears to have superior depth for such a young group. College coaches are drooling. And I absolutely love the individual talent and star potential in this class, especially in the first five players. So without further adieu, here is the City/Suburban Hoops Report's top 15 prospects in the Class of 2011.

1. Mike Shaw, 6-8, WF, Chicago (DeLaSalle) .... Impressive physical tools, body and length. Great size to play the 3. Tremendous versatility and offensive arsenal for a young player, which should create mismatches for opposing teams. Unselfish -- almost to a fault, but he's still young and learning. Rarely forces the issue with the ball in his hands. Very good ballhandler for a player with his size, but getting to the basket needs to become an offseason priority. Still has a low release point on his jumper but already can knock down shots, both mid-range and beyond the arc. Will need to develop better technique in his overall game, but with a solid work ethic he can become the most versatile player in the state in time.
2. Tracy Abrams, 6-1, PG, Chicago (Mt. Carmel) .... A superior athlete with quickness. Great in the open court and finishing with exceptional body control. His ability to get by opposing guards is on an elite level. He's young but has showed he wants the ball in crucial moments. He's fearless and was completely unfazed for a young kid on a big stage in March. Defensively does a wonderful job of using his lateral quickness to disrupt passing lanes. Has decent form and can hit shots, but must gain consistency and add range. Gets to basket and finishes.
3. Wayne Blackshear, 6-4, 2G/WF, Chicago (Curie) .... Huge upside. Great body. Highlight reel waiting to happen with great elevation. Only showed flashes this past season, but when he did left you saying "wow!" He flat-out finishes. He can be too reliant on his athleticism, but that should change with experience. He has a long way to go as a ballhandler, which limits his ability to create offense for himself at times. In short bursts he's fine in getting to the basket but perimeter extended he can struggle with his handle.
4. Sam Thompson, 6-6, WF, Chicago (Whitney Young) .... The posterchild for the long, athletic basketball player. He's in rare company with his wingspan, mobility, quickness and leaping ability. Think Stacey Augmon, the former UNLV star. Just a tremendous package of length, athleticism and skill level on his very slight, wiry frame. Runs the court like a guard. Body strength doesn't allow him to finish after contact. Hasn't been fully tested so there is so much room to grow as a player. He's just a baby and the sky is the limit.
5. Donivine Stewart, 5-10, PG, Bartonville (Limestone) .... A completely different type of player. I have broken his game down in past blogs, but he has an uncanny feel and creativeness to his game. He's deceptive and can create space for himself despite not being overly athletic or very big. This kid just gets it. I have said he's in the mold of former St. Joseph guard Jameer Nelson, who currently plays in the NBA. But the questions about his size and athleticism (or lack of) and how that translates to the next level are legitimate.
6. Chasson Randle, 6-1, 2G, Rock Island .... Plain and simple, he can put the ball in the basket. Had an impressive freshman season for the Rocks, averaging over 14 a game over the last seven games. Although extremely slender, he's quick and long for a 6-1 or 6-2 kid. Versatile scorer, has a scorer's mentality, can shoot with range, get to the basket, create for others. There's a lot to like. And a terrific student. If Randle were in the Chicago area he would be talked about a lot more than he has been.
7. Jay Parker, 5-8, PG, Harvey (Thornton) ... Thrives in the open floor, using his great speed to push the ball and get to the basket. Potential is there to be a pesky, terrific on-the-ball defender. Still has a lot to learn about running a team and the responsibilities of a point guard. His diminutive size is a concern. But he's an aggressive competitor.
8. Andrew Jordan, 6-5, WF, Peoria (Woodruff) .... Doesn't really know how to play the game yet and his skill level (ballhandling, shooting) is a work in progress. So why is he among the top 10? While not nearly as refined as the above players, remember, he's just a freshman. Just a pure, raw athlete with a ton of upside and potential due to his body, size, athleticism, ability to run the floor and finish.
9. Dre Henley, 6-4, 2G/WF, Chicago (DeLaSalle) .... Another prospect oozing with talent, great body and athleticism but needs considerable work on his overall skill level. Should be fun, though, watching Henley team up with classmate Mike Shaw.
10. George Marshall, 5-9, PG, Chicago (Brooks) .... He will get it and go, get into the lane. May be one of the quickest players in the state of Illinois. Could struggle to get shots off against bigger opponents.
11. Sondale Connor, 6-4, WF, Chicago (Brooks) .... Is one to watch this summer on a loaded Illinois Hawks team that features George Marshall, Jamie Crockett and the Gray twins, 6-6 Keith and 6-6 Kevin, a pair of players just outside the Top 15. A terrific athlete with a decent skill level.
12. Jamie Crockett, 6-3, 2G/WF, Olympia Fields (Rich Central) .... An athletic explosive freak along the baseline who finishes with authority. He put on a show over the weekend at the AAU 15-and-under qualifying tournament at Jacobs High School.
13. DeShawn Greer, 6-5, WF/PF, Chicago (Simeon) .... Needs quick work, progress on perimeter game to avoid the dreaded "tweener" label. But body and talent are there.
14. Ryan Boatright, 5-10, PG, Aurora (East) .... Is he USC good? No, but still a very talented player for his age that needs to improve his perimeter jumper and someway, somehow, add weight and strength to that tiny frame.
15. Greg Travis, 5-10, Chicago (Curie) .... Had a very solid season for a talented Curie team this past season. Although he doesn't have the smoothest release, has the ability to knock down shots and score.

Most Coveted: Mike Shaw, 6-8, DeLaSalle .... Rare to see players with that size, that skill level -- and a good head on his shoulders -- at that young of an age.
Scariest Potential: Sam Thompson, 6-6, Whitney Young .... Just watch him. Looks like a freakish 7th grader due to his undeveloped body and inexperience.
Most Underrated: Chasson Randle, 6-1, Rock Island .... He's a better prospect -- and player right now -- than a lot of bigger-named Chicago area players that people are salivating over.
Most Underrated II: Jamie Crockett, 6-3, Rich Central .... He's been overlooked early on due to such a talent-laden class, but he's awfully impressive.
Most Overlooked: Will Sullivan, 6-2, York .... He's never mentioned with any of the top players in this class but should be.
Biggest Intrigue: Nana Egwu, 6-8, St. Iganatius .... Still awfully raw and a long way to go, but that size!

Note: O'Fallon's Charles Joy, a 6-4 freshman, is considered to be one of the elite prospects in the state in the Class of 2011. The Hoops Report has not yet seen Joy play and does not rank players it hasn't seen.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 07:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

Flash's Spring Hoops Review featured a bevy of individual talent on display, which included several of the top players in the Class of 2009 and went as far down as getting an early look at some of the better 8th graders in the state that traveled to the campus of Illinois Wesleyan on Sunday.

The event is organized and runs on time, which is not always the case in so many of the different exposure camps and events. Kudos to Bill "Flash" Flanagan. As is the case with any offseason event, though, it's hit and miss as far as what you see from individual players. The play can -- and was -- ragged. And then there are those individuals that simply didn't come to play with the right frame of mind. Nonetheless, here is a look at a little of what the Hoops Report saw on this day.

Simms-Edwards continues to impress
Every time I watch Washington's Dyricus Simms-Edwards I come away more and more impressed. While the 6-1 point guard wasn't eye-popping with his play, he just gets better and better as he becomes more comfortable with the ball in his hands on a regular basis. Remember, this was really the first year in which he has played that he has been thrust into the role of a playmaking guard. He is still developing a feel for the point guard position and has to cut down on turnovers, but he sees the floor well, gets to the basket, finishes with his strong upper body and continues to knock down shots from the perimeter. He's a little stiff in the hips and his lateral quickness almost looks awkward at times, but this is nitpicking. It will be interesting to see his progression this offseason playing for the Illinois Wolves and under Washington coach Kevin Brown, one of the best in the business.

Leaving wanting more
Another day leaving a gym where you just wanted to see more from Sterling's Joseph Bertrand. I have seen Bertrand at his best, which can be tantalizing. But in what was basically a scrimmage/practice for the Illinois Wolves teams on Sunday, the versatile guard again went with the flow. He remains an enigma and is embarking on a very important summer in terms of development and consistency. He is never going to be a big-time scorer. He doesn't have the mindset or the perimeter shot to be that type of threat. But he can still be more assertive, more active and utilize his strengths, which is his length, athleticism and vision. Considering the talent level he has, there are still too many times he's a non-factor on the floor. He's at the age and point in his career where the light has to come on all the time -- or at least most of the time.

Most impressive performer
There were several players who probably could have made a claim as the top performer, but it was hard to ignore Danville's Mikel Brigham. The 6-5 out-of-this-world athlete was the eye-opening performer. Oh, he's raw and without a position. But he's so long, runs the floor as well as anyone, dunks everything in transition and is an absolute monster on the boards. I loved the way he played at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament in December and again showcased his pure athleticism on Sunday. He lacks any perimeter skills aside from an occasional 12-foot face-up jumper. But his biggest hoops obstacle may be that he's a much better college football prospect.

Other odds and ends....
Freshman phenom Donivine Stewart of Limestone remains one of the top five prospects in the Class of 2011 and features a unique, uncanny style to his game, which I have talked about in great length in past blogs. But the questions about his size, quickness and athleticism (or lack of) are legitimate. You have to wonder how his individual game and talents will translate to the highest level of college basketball. Simply put, he's a completely different type of player that needs to be closely evaluated to get a read as to his impact at the next level....Peoria Christian's Billy Molinari was very solid on the day. He's going to be a hot commodity on the small school (Division III, NAIA) recruiting trail and, with a splash this summer, just may find himself being a Patriot League-type player before it's all said and done.... There wasn't a player who played harder than Conrad Krutwig of Jacobs. The 6-6 four-man ran the floor, finished and defended. He's limited athletically, but he continues to improve his face-up game.... Champaign Centennial's James Kinney is a talented point guard, but he still puts the ball on the floor too much and tries to do too much at times.... He's young and doesn't really have a clue yet how to play, but Peoria Woodruff's Andrew Jordan has the physical make-up and the proverbial high-ceiling you look for in a college prospect. He's a long way from being anywhere close to a finished product, but the 6-5 freshman wing showed flashes on Sunday.... First look at Metamora big man Zeke Schneider. The 6-8 junior is skilled but looks as if he's hardly been coached. His thin, weak lower body really hurts him when he's anywhere inside or near the lane. He's a no-brainer Division I recruit due to his size and skill level, with the mid-major level a possibility with significant strides in the next several months.... While not as skilled as Schneider, big 6-8 Nick Washburn of Mahomet-Seymour is one to watch. He has a ways to go, but what a body.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 06:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

Eastern Illinois coach Mike Miller continues to take steps in rebuilding the basketball program in Charleston. Earlier today the Panthers received a verbal commitment from Elgin's Jeremy Granger. The 6-1 point guard will sign officially next Wednesday.

While teammate Armani Williams received more headlines throughout his career at Elgin, it was Granger who emerged as the top player in the Upstate Eight Conference and a more complete player. Granger, who brings toughness and scoring ability to the lead guard position, blossomed over the second half of the season and helped lead the Maroons to a surprising run to the supersectional in March. This could turn out to be a late recruiting steal for Miller and his Panthers.

Great to see voters get it right
While both Farragut's Mike Dunigan and Oak Park's Iman Shumpert were McDonald's All-Americans, it was great to see voters for the Mr. Basketball Award get it right in Illinois with the selection of Homewood-Flossmoor's Kevin Dillard. The truth is, if it wasn't going to be Dillard it should have been Decatur Eisenhower's Lewis Jackson -- not the more hyped Dunigan or Shumpert. This award has had bigger names and more high-profile prospects than Dillard, but in this particular year it was Dillard who was most deserving.

Even bigger emphasis recruiting Chicago
Both Southern Illinois and Toledo have been heavily involved in recruiting the Chicago area over the last several years. That should only increase more with the hiring of Gene Cross as head coach at Toledo and Lance Irvin as assistant coach at Southern Illinois. Cross has been a constant in recruiting the state of Illlinois as an assistant, most recently at Notre Dame. And the hiring of Irvin looks to be a no-brainer for the Salukis with how loaded Mac Irvin's Fire AAU program is right now. Lance Irvin is the son of Mac Irvin, the originator of the Fire traveling basketball program.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 08:18 PM | Permalink |